Microsoft's Worldwide Telescope to Focus on Mars 24 March 2009

Microsoft's WorldWide Telescope to focus on Mars 24 March 2009

and Space Administration several years ago to enhance Google Earth with space agency images.

Google Earth features 3D images of Mars, real-time spacecraft tracking, and virtual tours of the red planet at the free online service.

More than 100 terabytes of NASA data, including images from a Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter that has been studying the planet since 2006, will be incorporated into WorldWide Telescope later this year, according to Microsoft.

"This collaboration will enable people around the world to explore new images of the moon and Mars This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image shows Mars in a rich, interactive environment," said Microsoft in 2005. Microsoft and NASA on Tuesday announced an vice president of external research Tony Hey. alliance to focus the software giant's virtual WorldWide Telescope on space agency images of Mars and other "WorldWide Telescope serves as a powerful tool for celestial bodies. computer science researchers, educators and students to explore space and experience the excitement of computer science." Microsoft and NASA on Tuesday announced an Images from a camera aboard a Lunar alliance to focus the software giant's virtual Reconnaissance Orbiter to be launched by NASA WorldWide Telescope on space agency images of in May will also be made available. Mars and other celestial bodies. Worldwide Telescope went live online about a year NASA and Microsoft will jointly develop a system to ago and combines images from ground- and space- make high-resolution images and scientific data based telescopes to simulate peering into the from Mars, the moon and elsewhere in the cosmos cosmos. available for people to "explore" online at worldwidetelescope.org. "NASA is excited to collaborate with Microsoft to share its portfolio of planetary images with students "Making NASA?s scientific and astronomical data and lifelong learners," said Pete Worden, director of more accessible to the public is a high priority for NASA's Ames Research Center in Northern NASA," said the US space agency's science California. mission directorate associate administrator Ed Weiler. "This is a compelling astronomical resource and will help inspire our next generation of astronomers." "Especially given the new administration?s recent emphasis on open government and transparency." (c) 2009 AFP Google teamed up with the National Aeronautics

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APA citation: Microsoft's WorldWide Telescope to focus on Mars (2009, March 24) retrieved 29 September 2021 from https://phys.org/news/2009-03-microsoft-worldwide-telescope-focus-mars.html

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